Labor Day Driving Tips

The first step towards a safe trip begins in the driveway.

• Plan Ahead and Expect Delays: With increased traffic, allow extra time for your trip. Use navigation apps to stay informed about real-time traffic conditions and adjust your route as needed.
• Stay Alert and Avoid Fatigue: Long drives and heavy traffic can lead to driver fatigue. Take regular breaks, switch drivers if possible, and stay hydrated to maintain focus.
• Watch for Aggressive Drivers: Holiday travel often brings out more aggressive driving behaviors. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, and avoid engaging with aggressive drivers.
• Ensure Your Vehicle is Road-Ready: Before hitting the road, check your vehicle’s tire pressure, fluid levels, and lights. Address any maintenance issues to avoid breakdowns during your trip.
• Do a “walk around” before leaving: Check your vehicle’s tires, wipers, and fluids. Have your radiator and cooling system serviced.
• Plan ahead: Before getting on the highway, know your exit by name and number, and watch for signs as you approach it. Drivers making sudden lane changes to exit often cause accidents.
• Get a map or program your GPS: Surprisingly, few motorists use maps, even when driving through unfamiliar areas. Knowing the road is essential for safe driving—it allows you to anticipate the road ahead and avoid a panicky search for directions.
• Leave early and avoid risks: Leave early so you won’t be anxious about arriving late and can accommodate any delays. Know your limitations: don’t drive when tired, upset, or physically ill. Never attempt risky maneuvers to gain a few seconds.
• Be aware of trucks’ blind spots: When sharing the road with large trucks, be mindful of their blind spots. If you can’t see the truck driver in their mirrors, the driver likely can’t see you.
• Expect the unexpected: Look a quarter mile ahead for a safe path and always leave yourself an out.
• Stay hands-free: Ensure your phone is connected to your vehicle’s Bluetooth, and use it hands-free. Limit cell phone use to a minimum, and pull off to a designated parking area if a call is prolonged. Never use your phone in work zones.
• Signal your intentions: Signal ahead of time when changing lanes so other drivers can respond. If a truck signals to change lanes, give it space—it may be avoiding another vehicle.
• Do not cut in front of large trucks: Trucks are heavier and take longer to stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them.
• Yield: On entrance ramps, remember that highway traffic has the right of way. Maintain proper speed, use smooth merging techniques, and don’t slow down in front of a truck.
• Never stop on the highway: The most dangerous speed on a highway is zero. Stopped vehicles, even on the shoulder, create severe hazards. If you must stop for an emergency, remember that big trucks may not be able to stop to assist you, but many will use their radios to contact the police or highway patrol.
• Watch your gas gauge: To save fuel, take direct routes, minimize side trips, and maintain a steady speed. A well-tuned engine, properly inflated tires, and reduced speed will result in noticeable fuel savings. Ensure you have at least a quarter tank of gas before getting on the highway. Traffic tie-ups can consume a lot of fuel and may leave you stranded.
• Stay alert in construction zones: Traffic may move more slowly, and lanes may be temporarily closed. Obey informational signs located within the work zone.

America’s Road Team would like to remind the motoring public that from driveway to highway, safety requires patience and dedication.